If the blood is unusually thin, it can pose a danger during surgery because it doesn't clot properly, resulting in excessive bleeding and blood loss. When it is too fluid, you need to try to thicken it by carefully changing your diet, lifestyle and medications.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Nutrition and Lifestyle
Step 1. Change your diet a week or two before the surgical procedure
It takes days or weeks for the blood to thicken a bit, changing only the diet and habits of life; start introducing changes as soon as possible to maximize the potential effects on the blood.
- Talk to your doctor before changing your diet. He will be able to advise you on the dietary changes you should go through before surgery.
- Your doctor may exclude garlic, cayenne pepper, flaxseed, green tea, tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes from your diet. These foods could alter the effect of anesthesia and the density of your blood.
- You will likely also need to avoid allergenic foods, such as nuts, eggs, milk, fish, grains, and soy.
Step 2. Eat a balanced diet to get more vitamin K
It has the ability to thicken the blood by increasing the coagulation functions; therefore, by following a diet based on foods that are rich in them, you can facilitate this process. Great options are:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Meat;
- Dairy product.
Step 3. Stop drinking alcohol
Alcohol tends to thin the blood and may cause more bleeding; you must therefore avoid it as much as possible at least a week before the surgery.
An occasional glass of wine or some relatively low alcoholic beverage does not necessarily cause particular problems in those with normal blood density, but it can cause adverse effects in those who have more fluid than average. The safest option, in your case, is therefore to completely avoid drinking alcohol until you are done with the operation
Step 4. Keep yourself adequately hydrated
Proper hydration is an essential component for the health of the blood system; if you are dehydrated, the blood volume may decrease, making the blood thinner and leading to greater difficulty in clotting.
- On the other hand, excessive hydration can make it too fluid; when you drink more, more fluids enter the blood system, diluting it.
- To avoid complications, you should maintain standard hydration levels before undergoing surgery; try to drink 8 8-ounce glasses of fluid each day.
Step 5. Don't take salicylates
They prevent the body from absorbing vitamin K and, consequently, the blood from thickening. You should avoid foods that are rich in it, so that your blood can truly benefit from the vitamin K you consume.
- Your doctor will likely have you stop taking aspirin a week before the operation.
- Most aromatic herbs and spices are naturally rich in salicylates; some of the most popular are ginger, cinnamon, dill, oregano, turmeric, licorice and mint.
- Some fruits also contain it in large quantities; you should therefore avoid raisins, cherries, cranberries, grapes, tangerines and oranges.
- Other foods rich in salicylates are chewing gum, honey, mint, vinegar, and cider.
- Some condiments and foods are rich in both salicylates and vitamin K and, in this case, the two substances balance each other; the best examples are chili powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme, blueberries, plums and strawberries.
Step 6. Check your vitamin E intake
This is another substance that can interfere with the body's ability to absorb vitamin K, although the effects are generally less noticeable than products with salicylates and therefore need not be given up completely.
- Your best bet would be to simply avoid taking too much while preparing for the surgical procedure; do not take vitamin E supplements and do not add any new foods that contain vitamin E to your regular diet.
- Some topical and beauty products, such as some hand sanitizers, contain vitamin E as a preservative; therefore check the label and consider temporarily replacing the brand by choosing another that does not have this vitamin among the ingredients.
- Most foods rich in vitamin E contain just as much vitamin K, if not more; the best known examples are spinach and broccoli. Therefore, they shouldn't thin your blood and you shouldn't exclude them from your diet.
Step 7. Avoid omega-3 fatty acids
These substances can thin the blood and prevent clotting; a normal dose of these fatty acids can be safely consumed before surgery, as long as you have adequately thick and healthy blood, but you must avoid overdoing it.
- You shouldn't take them if your blood tends to be thinner than normal.
- Fatty fish contains a large amount of these substances, so avoid eating salmon, trout, tuna, anchovies, mackerel and herring before surgery.
- You should completely forgo fish oil capsules while preparing for surgery, as they contain a high dosage of omega-3s.
Step 8. Avoid taking any type of supplement that has not been approved by your doctor
Many supplements, even the most common ones, can thin the blood. Ask your doctor which supplements you can continue taking before surgery. Some supplements to avoid are those based on:
- Ginkgo biloba;
- Coenzyme q10;
- St. John's wort;
- Fish oil;
- Glucosamine;
- Chondroitin;
- Vitamia C and E;
- Garlic;
- Ginger.
Step 9. Reduce your physical activity sessions
Light to moderate exercise can offer benefits before the surgical procedure, but you should avoid strenuous exercise at least a week before the surgery date.
- Excessive exercise can increase bleeding, reduce vitamin K levels, and thin the blood.
- At the same time, however, even a too sedentary life is harmful for you; people who have a less dynamic life are at greater risk of thickening the blood excessively and causing the formation of clots.
- The best thing to do is to engage in light physical activity several times a week; for example, you can walk or run for half an hour three to five times a week.
Part 2 of 2: Medical Considerations
Step 1. Consult your doctor before making any changes
When preparing for surgery, you must first evaluate with your family doctor or surgeon any changes to your routine; this means discussing possible alterations in diet, over-the-counter and prescription medications.
- Check with your doctor for any medications you are currently taking; the specialist should tell you if you need to stop therapy or reduce your dosage before surgery.
- Be aware that the blood may be too thin or too thick, and neither situation is particularly safe, especially if you are undergoing an operation. Excessive fluid does not clot properly, causing excessive bleeding during the procedure. the thick one can instead trigger the formation of blood clots that can potentially block the arteries or induce other complications.
Step 2. Do not take over-the-counter thinners
There are some over-the-counter drugs or medicinal plants that can act as anticoagulants and by taking them you may thin your blood more than necessary; to avoid this risk, you must stop consuming it at least one week before surgery.
- The drugs most responsible for this are aspirin and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Medicinal plants and products that have similar effects include vitamin E, garlic, ginger and ginkgo biloba supplements.
Step 3. Momentarily stop taking prescription thinners
If you are currently taking anticoagulant medications indicated by your doctor, he or she may advise you to stop them several days before the procedure. This is an important aspect, regardless of whether you were originally given to thin the blood or not.
- The exact time to stop therapy depends largely on the specific circumstance, so you should consult your doctor before stopping any prescribed drug treatments.
- Prescription thinners include warfarin, enoxaparin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, dipyridamole and alendronate; Aspirin dosages and prescription NSAIDs are also included.
Warnings
- Always discuss any changes in medication, diet or lifestyle with your doctor, especially before undergoing surgery. The doctor should know your medical history, should therefore be fully aware of your specific needs and will be able to give you all the safest and most effective information for you.
- Avoid eating and drinking anything eight hours before the procedure; this also means giving up those products that can thicken the blood. Having food or liquids in your digestive system when you are "under the knife" could lead to complications and could even result in the need to reschedule the surgery to be safe.
- Depending on the circumstances, your doctor may allow you to take certain medications before the operation; however, you must stop treatments that are not approved by the surgeon eight hours before entering the operating room. These also include those medicines which are not directly related to blood density.
